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Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Hostess Gifts

Typically, Monday morning means the start of a new week, and while it still means that today, this week there's much more added pressure: it's Thanksgiving week. While I am pretty excited to be celebrating Thanksgiving and eating until my expandable pants won't expand any more, I am also ready to officially kick off the holiday season with our annual gift guides.

This year we have lots of gift guides full of covetable goodies for everyone on your list in store for you, and to begin, we thought we'd help you plan the very important Hostess Gifts for the Holidays. Whether you are spending the the holidays with friends, in-laws, or family, a Hostess Gift is a must. (And not just for Christmas, but for Thanksgiving and all the holiday parties in between, too.) A bottle of wine always gets the job done, as well as bringing a dish for everyone to enjoy, but if you are looking for something to wow, we've got the goods picked out to show your hosts that you really appreciate their hospitality.

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I'm not alone in having a candle obsession, and everyone loves the warm glow and scent a good candle brings to their home. Diptyque is one of everyone's favorite candle makers, and just for the holidays they have a beautiful frankincense-scented candle to leave you feeling transported straight to the heart of Christmas tradition.

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For those who love cuddling up to watch shows (and those that have extra counter space), why not totally wow them with the gift of a popcorn machine? Fresh-popped popcorn can't be beat, both by taste and smell, and this machine will be one of the most talked about pieces in anyone's home.

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We all love using Instagram, but having an actual photo you can hold and stash is so much better. For your friends, think outside of the box and give them the Fuji Instant Camera. The photos come out like mini Instagram polaroids.

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Fresh makes the most delightful smelling products, from lip gloss to soap. We all get gift sets that we never plan to use and will re-gift (to those that aren't our besties), but no one would want to trade this Fresh Oval Soap Trio Gift Set ever. Aside from the three artisnal soaps, my absolute favorite can't-leave-home-without product is included as well, a Sugar Lip Treatment.

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Looking to really impress? Tiffany & Co. doesn't just have jewelry; in fact its crystal wear is impeccably chic. A good decanter is not only ideal to hold precious alcohol during the holidays, but also a statement piece of home decor. The beautiful design of this crystal square decanter will leave everyone talking for seasons to come and keep everyone jolly and warm as well.

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There is not an event that goes by, whether a small dinner party or a large event, where I don't find myself swarming the cheese plate. I've got a love for cheese, and I always serve it for my own gatherings. A memorable cheese dish will become the center of attention both aesthetically and literally. I love MacKenzie-Childs, and this dish is so delightful.

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There's nothing better than bundling up and having hot chocolate during the winter. Even when I lived in Florida, I still loved having it - there's simply nothing better. Give the gift of delicious hot cocoa to keep your guests satisfied all winter, and if you're lucky, they might give you a cup too.

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When you're invited to a fellow fashion lover's home, giving the gift of Chanel will always wow. If you are saving your major stash of cash for your own Chanel bag, give the gift of beauty with a coffee table series by Assouline. Vlad and I continue to grow our collection of visually stunning books, and Assouline never disappoints - nor does Chanel.

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I'm not always a fan of personalized gifts, but if you know your host still sends snail mail, a custom return address stamp is a great gift. Even better is this version I found gives a few different custom calligraphy options, to give a sense of nostalgia for those that send out letters with a touch of current day speed.